Jolting discovery: Powerful new electric eel found

Researchers report two newly discovered species of electric eels in South America, one of which can deliver a bigger jolt than any other known animal.

This undated photo provided by researchers in September 2019 shows an Electrophorus voltai, one of the two newly discovered electric eel species, in Brazil’s Xingu River. While 250 species of fish in South America generate electricity, only electric eels use it to stun prey and for self-protection.
(AP/Leandro Sousa)
This undated photo provided by researchers in September 2019 shows an Electrophorus voltai, one of the two newly discovered electric eel species, in Brazil’s Xingu River. While 250 species of fish in South America generate electricity, only electric eels use it to stun prey and for self-protection.
(AP/Leandro Sousa)
This undated photo provided by researchers in September 2019 shows typical electric eel lowland habitat in Brazil’s Itaquai River. A newly discovered electric eel, Electrophorus varii, primarily lives in lowland regions of the Amazon.
(AP/D. Bastos)
This undated photo provided by researchers in September 2019 shows typical electric eel highland habitat in Suriname’s Coppename River. Two newly discovered electric eel species, Electrophorus electricus and E. voltai, live in the highland regions of the Amazon.
(AP/Carlos David de Santana)